Archive for the Category »Decluttering «

Finding time to organize is often a complaint used by people. In today’s society, activity is almost non-stop and it IS difficult to see where you can add yet another task to your schedule. However, there are ways, hidden pockets of time, to accomplish things. Below I cover a few of these often overlooked free periods.

Focus on a little bit at a time. Rather than thinking about the enormous job at the forefront, split that mission up into controllable tasks. For instance, if you want to organize the boxes in your attic, you may think about going through one box per day, until it’s all complete.

Ask Someone to bug you. Tell a close friend, relative or co-worker, what you plan to organize, and by what date. Then, merely request that person to bug you a small number of days before to see if you’ve completed it so far. A little outside inspiration is frequently an enormous help.

Bribe Yourself. Make something you love to do, dependant on the achievement of today’s chore. If you promise yourself that you will not watch your favorite television program tonight, unless you work for 15 minutes on organizing your paper piles, you’re sure to get that little task completed. No cheating permitted.

Do not separate each pending bill. Whatever you do, don’t put your utility bill in one folder, your car insurance bill in another folder and your membership dues bill in another. All imminent bills should be together in an envelope, pocket folder or basket so they can be paid without having to search several different places to find them.

Fit in exercise by multi-tasking. Do some calisthenics or ride a stationary bike while watching your favorite television program. Do some easy stretches, while you’re on the telephone and you’re on hold. Waiting for the washing machine or dryer to finish, or waiting for a computer file to download? Now is a great time for some sit-ups or leg lifts!

Have you ever considered why you may be having trouble getting organized? Below are the top five reasons. Check and see if you are falling into one of these traps.

The ‘I’d Rather Do Something Else’ Mindset. Let’s face it. We’d all rather be doing something fun, correct? One way to overcome this problem is to schedule your organizing projects for first thing in the morning. Do your project for an hour or so, and be done with it. Once it’s out of the way, your day will be free to do things that you really enjoy.

The ‘All or Nothing’ Philosophy. You may be unwilling to begin an organizing project because you only like to start things that you know you can conclude in one session. Waiting until you can do ‘the whole thing’ often ends up in nothing getting done.

Broad Goals and Priorities. Just making the statement, ‘I have to get organized,’ is too open. It often results in an overwhelmed, ‘I don’t know where to start’ feeling. Instead of saying you want to get organized, make a list of the exact things you’d like to organize, such as your bedroom closet, or your filing cabinet at work, or your schedule.

A Sense of Attachment. Sometimes it’s really hard to part with things because you may feel a sense of attachment. It is imperative to decide what things are ‘really’ important to you and what things are just taking up space.

Fear of Failure. One of the major reasons for not starting an organizing project is fear of failure. You may feel that since you haven’t been able to get organized for so many years, that it will be impossible for you to get organized now. Or, you may feel that even if you do manage to get it organized, you might not be able to keep it up. Positive thinking is a must!!

Part of having good feng shui is clutter management. If anything, clutter is the biggest hindrance you can have for the best flow of chi, prosperity and goodness in your life. However, few people are able to manage their clutter wisely. On a daily basis, we get tons and tons of stuff we won’t be really using for a long time. Here are some tips for you to help reduce clutter and invite good Feng Shui.

Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 1: Sort your mail as it comes in

Incoming mail is one of the top sources of clutter. All those bills are not just stressful if mismanaged and stashed somewhere in your home, but it is also contributory to clutter in your home. If you are really serious about getting good Feng Shui, make sure that you are able to screen your mail. Establish a system for sorting all your mail. And this also holds true for other papers you may be keeping in your home. If you neatly categorize them and throw away the ones you no longer need, you will be much better off.

Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 2: Opt for daily cleanings than reliance on major general cleanings

A general cleaning schedule is good, but if you are still not in the habit of cleaning on a regular basis, you may still find yourself filled with a clutter problem. So the best thing to do when you are trying to apply good Feng Shui is by exercising your cleaning powers on a daily basis, not just on a schedule. It does not have to be too rigorous if done on a daily basis. You can just start with the cleaning per day one area at a time to accomplish it effectively.

Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 3: Clean as you work

While working on a project, clean as you go. This means that you will not just leave stuff lying around on the table as you do your work. This ensures that the work space remains clean, and this also implies that you are open for more productive work in the future since the space is wiped free of any traces from previously done work.

Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 4: Be generous about your stuff

Give away the stuff you don’t need. This is a rule of thumb when it comes to cleaning up and freeing from clutter. Being generous involves giving away stuff you don’t really get to use. What you won’t use for a long time and collect dust may actually be an answer to somebody else’s problems. Just make sure that you are not transferring clutter but something that can really be of use to the person you are giving it to.

Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 5: Dust frequently

Dusting frequently helps keep your place clean. Dust, when accumulated also forms the clutter which we are really trying to avoid in Feng Shui.

Anti-Clutter Feng Shui Tip 6: Evaluate your stuff brutally

If at all possible, have a peer to help you evaluate your stuff at home. What you may hold dear and refuse to part with is not just a sign of bad Feng Shui but may also be a sign of a hoarding problem. Aside from addressing your Feng Shui issues, the mindset on clutter ma also have to be dealt with accordingly.